Beyond Boundaries - Study Overseas

My blog is an honest attempt in assisting aspiring candidates with true information, facilitating them in making informed decisions about studying overseas. It is completely based on my ideas, experiences, research, knowledge, observations and does not intend to hurt or challenge anyone's knowledge or ideas. I would be aiming at addressing topics where candidates are often confused, misguided or clueless. Hope this sincere attempt help as many as possible and reach as many as possible.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Post-grad at CMU, Pittsburgh for engineer from
BangaloreMaster
in Information System Management (MISM) is a branch of study which deals with
the management of Information Systems of organisations. This is a popular
course among students, since there is a rising need for individuals with
precise knowledge on managing and maintaining information systems. This course
would include topics like information systems modelling, databases, computer
networks, to name a few.

Many universities abroad are
sought-after for being pioneers in offering this course and it is certainly one
of the few most opted choices of Indian students when they choose to go for
Masters abroad. We had a chat with one such student, Ragav Ramakrishna from
Bangalore, who plans to pursue the MISM course in Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh. Let us look at what he had to say.

a. Tell us something about your current
university and why you choose to attend it?

Carnegie Mellon University, situated in
Pittsburgh, is a world-renowned university and has been a pioneer in the
research field for long. The university profile as a whole, is top notch and it
consistently hits the top 10 in most of the ranking charts, which clearly
insinuates that it is one of the very best. There were many factors which
prompted me to choose CMU over other universities like NYU, UPenn, VTech, Univ
of Washington Seattle. The choice of subjects they provide, the reputation that
comes along with CMU, the freedom they offer to their students and their
inter-disciplinary activities, combined with hectic course work would give me
an opportunity to learn both my major subjects and others that are of interest
to me. There are also many esteemed professors conducting research on a wide
spectrum of topics and there is little doubt that the faculty profile is the
very best.

b. How was your overall experience during the
admission process from India to US?

I was extremely nervous at
first. The process seemed radically different from that in India. Ms Binita Parekh,
head of Beyond Boundaries Education Consulting, explained the entire process in
a very detailed manner, and I was convinced that with her guidance, the
admission process would be very smooth. She gave me profound instructions which
were instrumental in helping me apply to a large number of universities and
secure admissions in prestigious ones. The visa process also went on very well,
by following her meticulous planning and guidance.

c. Give us a brief idea about your background.

I am 21 year old Computer
Science and Engineering graduate from Bangalore. I pursued my engineering from
CMR Institute of Technology, Bangalore, affiliated to Visvesvaraya
Technological University. I secured 82% in my engineering and also held a few
leadership roles in college and I also have two publications under my belt.

d. What course/programme are you currently
pursuing and what motivated you to get into it?

At CMU, I will be pursuing
Master Of Information Systems Management course popularly abbreviated as MIS or
MISM. I want to specialize in ‘IT strategy and Management' within the MISM
umbrella. The data burst that is happening today is exponential and data is
becoming an integral part of our life. A lot of promising and emerging fields
of computer science have their roots embedded in data. So, I think information
systems will open up a gazillion opportunities for me to work and explore.

e. What are your future plans after the
programme?

Post MS, I would like to kick-start my career,
preferably as a Consultant or Strategic Associate. Later on, I aspire to head a
company which can help develop and support entrepreneurs who want to make a
larger impact in the society. I feel that by supporting them I would have
indirectly made an impact in the society.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

CMR
Bangalore's graduate heads to UPenn for Biotechnology

The
number of Indian students who opt for higher studies in the US, increase with
every passing year. There are a wide array of courses and facilities in most of
the universities in the US, which makes it an attractive destination for
graduate and post-graduate studies.

Careerindia
had a chat with Simran Kaur, one such student, who has recently gained
admission to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania. She shared a lot of
things about the different specializations available for courses and what made
her choose the UPenn as her university for higher studies.

Let us
look at what Simran had to share.

Give us
a brief idea about your background.

I'm 21
years old and I'm from Bangalore, Karnataka. I did my BE in Biotechnology from
CMR Institute of Technology which is affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological
University. I passed my Bachelor's with an aggregate of 87% and was always the
topper at college level. I have also held University ranks in all semesters.

Tell us
something about your university and what is the reason for choosing it for your
higher education.

University
of Pennsylvania is a prestigious Ivy League university in Philadelphia. It is
ranked amongst the top 20 universities in the world. The esteemed faculty
includes many Nobel laureates and many faculty members, who are also currently
a part of ground-breaking research in all fields. There are many reasons why I
chose the University of Pennsylvania over other distinguished universities such
as John Hopkins University. It has a very high ranking, along with world-class
teaching faculty and research opportunities. The course structure is very
flexible and students can tailor the curriculum according to their dreams and
aspirations. The course offers a unique mix of both biotechnological skills and
business understanding, which was just what I was looking for.

What course are you planning to pursue in
University of Pennsylvania?

I'm
going to be pursuing Professional Science Masters in Biotechnology.
Biotechnology has always been my passion. I plan to specialize in
Biopharmaceuticals.

If there were any specific motivational
factors in selecting Biopharmaceuticals as your specialization, could you
please share it with us?

The
idea of saving people from diseases, taking inspiration from nature and our own
body's immune system has always been interesting to me. University of
Pennsylvania offers a wide range of subjects that appealed to me such as
Vaccines and Immune Therapeutics, and Engineering Biotechnology.

What
really makes this degree at University of Pennsylvania special is that it also
offers students management courses that are relevant to their stream. Moreover,
I have always loved taking up leadership positions. At college, I was the
placement coordinator and also the class representative. These roles gave me
confidence and convinced me that I would love working at a managerial position.

This
course therefore offered me a perfect concoction of my two passions -
Biotechnology and Management, and this is the main reason that I took up this
program.

How was your overall experience during the
admission process from India to US?

When I first decided to pursue my masters
abroad, I was very confused and didn't know much about my options. However,
Beyond Boundaries Education Consulting, headed by Ms Binita Parekh, made this
ride a smooth one. Ms. Binita gave me personal attention and opened up a world
of opportunities for me. Everything from choosing universities according to my
profile to simplifying the visa process was explained well and broken down into
simple steps.

What
are your future plans after the program?

After I
finish my masters, I'm planning to take up an administrative job at a
pharmaceutical or immune therapeutics company. In the later future, I see
myself heading a company which provides life saving drugs to people around the
world at nominal rates.

We at
Careerindia wish Simran a successful academic journey and a bright career
ahead.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Expert guidance to interpret GRE scores

The
GRE or the Graduate Record Examination is an exam conducted by the Educational
Testing Service (ETS) which aims to measure the candidate's verbal reasoning,
quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills, that
have been developed over a long period of time. The scores of this examination
are mandatory to gain admission to most graduate schools in many countries
around the world, mainly in the USA.

Generally it is said that GRE scores can make or break an
application. An engineering student usually begins the application process in
the sixth semester while students pursuing a three-year degree programmes like
B.A, B.Com, B.Sc start the process after the completion of the degree. In both
cases, since there is little or nothing to be done in terms of academic scores,
the GRE assumes enormous importance is the only 'flexible' component in the
process.

Typically, a student would take about three months to prepare for the GRE test.
However, it is recommended that the student should begin preparations for
taking the test even earlier if possible and put in every effort to obtain an
excellent score in their first attempt itself. Special effort should be given
to the Verbal section of the GRE test as Indian students generally fail to
score well in this section. If the student feels that the GRE test score is too
low, he/she can retake the test. If retaking the test is not possible, then the
students can apply to Universities with their first attempt scores itself.

To better understand the category of Universities that a student can target
with their GRE scores and good academic background, the GRE scores are divided
into three categories/range:

a.
320 - 340: This score falls in the high range and on obtaining such a score, a
student automatically has the option of applying to top universities. A student
scoring 320 or above will most certainly have an excellent academic track
record and this will allow him/her to apply for renowned and prestigious
universities worldwide.

b.
300 - 319: Most students tend to score within this range. Students obtaining
such a score can apply to several top universities but would have to balance
the list with applications to other universities as well. Students who score in
this range have an average to above average academic performance. However,
there are instances where a top ranked student with a strong academic record
may not be able to crack the GRE test.

c.
299 and below: Scores in this range are considered to be on the lower side and
may not be adequate for getting an admission in a university abroad. Students
are therefore advised to retake the GRE test or apply to those universities
where low GRE scores are accepted or those where the GRE score is not mandatory
or has been waived.

All queries regarding the GRE test and application process, particularly
important questions like, when to take the test, or whether to retake it if the
situation demands it or on issues such as guidance with interpreting test
scores and selecting the appropriate universities can be sent to
info@beyondboundaries.com.

The
author, Binita Parekh, leads a team of dedicated and highly
qualified counselors and staff at Beyond Boundaries
Education Consulting Services which offers advice and guidance to students
for successful applications to prestigious academic institutions, enabling them
to achieve and bring their dreams to fruition.

Friday, June 27, 2014

In order to obtain
a student visa, financial documents are most important. Failure to submit the
necessary documents will affect your chances of getting a student visa. In this
article, we will discuss about the list of specific financial documents
required for procuring a student's visa and why those documents are required.

While issuing a student visa, all the foreign embassies have one common
objective. This is to understand if a student can afford the cost of the
education, which would include the tuition fee, cost of living, travel
expenses, etc. Or would there be a possibility of the student becoming a
potential immigrant? In other words, the immigration officials would want to
know if the student will stay back in their country to seek employment after
the completion of his/her course or will they return back to their home
country? If the officials feel there is a chance that the student would stay
back in their country, that student's visa is immediately rejected. The
financial documents of the applicant are required so that the immigration
officials can discern the student's financial status and understand whether the
student's family can afford an expensive education and if they will return back
to their home country after its completion. Generally, investments, assets and
salary statements are indicators proving the financial capacity of student's
family. In addition, the visa officer will also be interested in understanding
the occupation of the sponsor/family.

Given below is a list of the
most important financial documents that will help the student in the visa
application process:

4. If
the sponsor owns a company/firm: Balance Sheets, Profit & Loss Accounts and
Income Tax Documents for last two financial years

5. If a
loan is used as the method of sponsorship; then a loan sanction letter

Other
necessary documents include evidences such as:

1.
Proof of investment in equity/shares, bonds and mutual funds

2.
Insurance policies or premium receipts

3.
Provident funds and post office savings proof

4.
Certificates of investments in NSC & KVP.

The
financial documents required for obtaining a visa will be different and will be
specified in the immigration rules of the respective country. All applicants
must go through the documents carefully when preparing to apply for a student
visa.

For
instance, countries such as United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, among others
will require photocopies of most of the documents as per their guidelines,
where as for the US Student Visa, it is safer to carry the originals of the
relevant documents, including income tax documents and bank statements when
appearing for the personal interview.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

What are the documents
required to obtain student visa?

If a person decides to go to
a foreign country to visit, work or study, he/she would need a visa issued by a
competent authority of the foreign country. The rules to obtain a student visa
maybe different for each country, but most of them require a set of standard
documents to start the proceedings to obtain a visa.

A passport, with
at least six months of validity from the date of travel, is a mandatory
document. To avoid any hassles and disappointments, the student should complete
the formalities of either obtaining a new passport or renewing the old one if
it is about to expire.

The following academic documents should be kept
ready before applying for a visa.

·Mark sheets: These are the bedrock of a student's visa process. The mark
sheets and other academic documents should be obtained from the respective
college / university. For obtaining admission to Bachelor's programme, mark
sheets and passing certificates from the 9th grade onwards are required. For an
MS/MBA/Ph. D programmes, all mark sheets, transcripts and degree certificates
or a provisional passing certificate from the first year of the Bachelor's
degree onwards is required. If a student has appeared recently for the final
examination, and if the results have not been declared yet, then the student
must possess the college ID card, examination fee receipt and examination hall
ticket. This is especially important for obtaining a US Visa.

·Test Scores reports: GRE/GMAT/SAT/TOEFL/IELTS scores and any other
official test score results.

·The original
admission letter from the university. I20 for US visa applicants.

·The form I20,
also called the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student
Status-For Academic and Language Students is a document issued by
SEVP-certified schools (colleges, universities, and vocational schools) that
provides supporting information on a student's visa status. This would have a
student-tracking number and the code of the school to which the student has
applied. SEVIS Receipt for US visa applicants. The Student and Exchange Visitor
Program (SEVIS) is a program within the U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement which monitors students and exchange visitors in the United States.
A receipt for the fee paid for this program is mandatory as proof before being
granted a visa or admission.

·Admission and
rejection letters of the Universities to which the student had applied.

·Financial aid or
scholarship letters, if any.

·If the student
is employed, then all documents related to the pertinent employment are
required.

Each student has to do a
thorough research to be aware of the documents needed at the time of applying
for a visa. These documents should be kept ready before beginning the process,
to avoid any hassles, delays and disappointments. The author, Binita Parekh, leads
a team of dedicated and highly qualified counselors and staff at Beyond
Boundaries Education Consulting Services which offers advice and guidance to
students for successful applications to prestigious academic institutions,
enabling them to achieve and bring their dreams to fruition.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

For the most, if not all
applicants for non-immigrant visas are generally viewed as intending
immigrants, until they can really convince the immigration officer that they
are not. For the US Student Visa (F1 visa), no matter how careful students
could be in knowing certain visa processing procedures, they should definitely
prepare for some of the frequently asked questions. With 15 years of research
and experience, experts at Beyond Boundaries have prepared this list of
questions for students who face visa process every year.

It is believed that most
students are definitely asked either or all of the following questions:

1. Why do you want to study
in the US?

2. Why do you want to pursue
an MS/MBA/PhD program?

3. Why have you chosen XYZ
university?

4. What is your GRE and
TOEFL score?

5. What is your academic
background?

6. Who will sponsor your
education?

7. What is your sponsor's
occupation?

8. What financial
arrangement has been made to pay for your education?

9. What are your plans after
completing this degree?

The above 9 questions are
almost sure shot, however, students can be asked about the climatic conditions,
trivia about the university such as the university's famous sport, lucky
mascot, etc to test their knowledge about the university that they intend to
study at, among other questions.

Other miscellaneous
questions students should be ready to face are:

How many universities did
you apply to?

How many admits and rejects?

How did you short-list the
universities?

What research area are you
interested in?

Do you know anyone in the
USA?

Have you ever traveled abroad?

What is the cost of
education per year?

Which companies can you work
with after finishing your education?

Have you opted for any
educational loan?

For students who graduated
last year and have not worked: What were you doing after completing your
education?

For students with work
experience: What are you doing after completing your education? Where are you
working? How did you get this job? What is your role? Does your organisation
know you are going to study abroad? Why do you want to leave such a lucrative
job and study?

For students who have
changed their major/subject area:Why have you changed your subject area? How
did you get interested in the new subject area?

This year the F1 student visas are relatively easy to obtain. However,
Binita Parekh from Beyond Boundaries Education Consulting recommends to be well
prepared for the interview to each and every candidate.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

I see a lot of students
seeking advice with only one admit in hand and yet waiting for some important
decisions.My small piece of advice to the students who have not received
decisions from all the universities they have applied to.

If
you have not heard from any universities about the admit or reject, kindly wait
till the universities revert back before deciding the 'final' university. It
will facilitate you in making an informed decision rather than shooting in the
dark and asking everyone for a feedback without having other decisions in hand.
Once you get an admit, you must go through the website, check the tuition fees,
total cost, check the courses, specializations, research, on-campus job
opportunities, faculty profiles, post Masters job opportunities, companies in
the state and in vicinity states, contact students there to get first hand
feedback. I would encourage you to prepare an excel sheet with various
parameters that are important to you and compare when you get all the decisions
to arrive at a suitable decision. The only exception here would be if a
university expects you to confirm your seat before decisions of the other
universities arrive. In this case
evaluate judiciously and confirm the university in hand and wait for the
others to reply.